DEMOCRACY was on full display Monday, as nearly 1,800 of the Commonwealth’s youth cast their ballots in the 20th CNMI Youth Congress election.
According to Youth Congress Coordinator Luis John Castro, there were no major issues during voting. “There were a few minor hiccups at some of the polling sites, but all in all the school election teams were able to handle the flow on election day and have a majority of their students vote,” Castro said after the results were officially certified on Tuesday.
This election also saw its biggest class of candidates in the last several terms as 20 teenagers vied for one of eight seats in the body, Castro said,
“In my experience, I haven’t seen this many candidates since the early Youth Congress terms when precinct level candidates and NMC were up for election. But judging how the last few terms went and how active the previous senators were in those terms; it shows that the respective student bodies look up to their elected youth representatives and want their chance to make an impact just like their predecessors did,” Castro said.
Just like in the 2023 election, votes were cast early and quick, due to the Public School System’s Monday half-day schedule.
“It was definitely a challenge for the schools with how to get their students to vote, but most of them set aside time for specific classes or the entire school as a whole to cast their vote so as not disrupt the daily schedule,” said Castro. Although the election and the Youth Congress are overseen by the Legislative Bureau, the schools themselves conducted and facilitated their school’s election. They are assisted during the process by staff of the Bureau and other legislative staffers.
The eight youth senators-elect for the 20th CNMI Youth Congress are as follows:
([I] indicates incumbent)
Grace Christian Academy
Ayden Sean C. Yumul (I)
Kagman High School
Vinnie Juan Q. Sablan (I)
Marianas High School
Monique P. Mendiola
Mount Carmel School
Christopher J. Dela Cruz
Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr.-Sr. High School
Edward U. Maratita III
Saipan International School
Victor Nash M. Santos
Saipan Southern High School
Mathew J. Salas (I)
Tinian Jr.-Sr. High School
Jireh Anna C. Cruz
Legislative Bureau Acting Director Carla M. San Nicolas said, “We [the Legislative Bureau] are definitely thankful for the patience and support of the participating schools’ administrators who have encouraged their students to participate in the democratic process. It is our hope through the experience those elected to the next term will get, that the Youth Congress will continue on its mission in developing the lawmakers of the future.”
San Nicolas also thanked the Bureau’s staff who took time from their regular duties to help each school’s election team in facilitating a smooth and orderly election process.
By law, Youth Congress elections are held every other year on the first Monday of March. Those elected to the 20th Youth Congress will take office on April 19. The CNMI Youth Congress was created by P.L. 8-27, authored by the late Vice-Speaker Jesus P. Mafnas. The body’s duties and functions are now governed via PL 17-22. Through its existence, the program aims to provide a system to prepare the islands’ youth to meet the challenges of the future, educate the youth on the electoral, legislative and governmental processes of a democratic society, and allow them to make recommendations to the policy makers on youth issues and programs.
In its over two-decade existence, four former Youth Congress alumni have been elected to the legislative branch, and one elected to the office of mayor.
